The Best Norwegian Female Singer Ever

When I heard Sissel sing for the first time, it felt like a lasar ray aimed directly at my soul. Her voice was so ethereal, just like “an angel passing through the room”.

Sissel Kyrkjebø is as Norwegian as the fjords—fresh and clear. She is best known for singing the Olympic Hymn (Hymne Olympique) at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway; for singing for duets with reknown figures like Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Charles Aznavour, and Josh Groban; and her extraordinary participation on the Titanic soundtrack.

Sissel’s rich and varied career has spanned over 20 years. She has performed in front of royalty and heads of state, shared the stage with superstars of every musical genre—classical stars, punks, pop idols and rappers.

Sissel is considered one of the world’s top crossover sopranos. Her musical style runs the musical scale from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias. She possesses a crystalline voice and wide vocal range, sweeping down from mezzo-soprano notes to the D flat above soprano C.

Sissel Kyrkjebo was born in 1969 in Bergen, gateway to the fjords on Norway’s west coast. It’s a place where she has always found her muse. “The Norwegian countryside is my inspiration. I am very proud of Norway and its fantastic nature. All through my childhood we used to go hiking in the mountains every Sunday, whatever the weather.”

In February 2006 Sissel was officially knighted by the King of Norway to the position of Knight of the 1st Class in the Order of St. Olav for her contributions to music and as an ambassador for Norway.

Sissel’s newest album, released Nov 6th 2007, (for the time being only in the USA), is called “Northern Lights”. It is a project that she has been dreaming of realizing for a long time; a live recording of a concert at Bergstaden Ziir, a church from the 17th century in Røros, Norway.

This spectacular concert is inspired by Norway’s winter and the “Blue Hour” (an enchanting winter twilight) and the mystical “Northern Lights”, also known as “Aurora Borealis”. As special guest star, the tenor José Carreras, makes this concert an even more tremendous evening. The music is beautifully arranged by Kjetil Bjerkestrand. The musicians sharing the stage with Sissel are the Trondheim Soloists, Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir and Sissel’s own band.

In my humble opinion—I’m only a music aficionado—Sissel’s best song is “Like an Angel Passing Through My Room”. Everytime I listen to this song, I get goose bumps. The spiritual experience is so intense, I fully encourage you to listen to this awesome song. Please click here for a superb performance recorded in You Tube. There’s no better way to start a Sunday. Good Day!